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200 Yuan 600th Anniversary of Zheng He's Voyage
| Issuer | People's Republic of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 2005 |
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| Currency | Second Rénmínbì (1955-date) |
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| Reverse description | A finely engraved portrait bust of Zheng He, the celebrated Ming Dynasty admiral and explorer, depicted in three-quarter view facing slightly left, wearing traditional official court robes and a characteristic Ming-era official hat. The denomination '200元' appears in the upper left field. Below the portrait, the inscription '航海王使——郑和' (Maritime Envoy — Zheng He) is incused along the lower field, identifying the subject. The portrait is rendered in high relief against a lightly cross-hatched or patterned background, lending the composition a formal, commemorative character. |
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| Mint | China Gold Coin Incorporation |
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| Additional information |
Zheng He's seven voyages between 1405 and 1433 reached as far as the East African coast, predating European contact with those regions by decades. The Ming court abruptly ended the expeditions after Yongle Emperor's death, and subsequent administrations actively suppressed the records — the original sailing charts were reportedly destroyed by a Confucian official who considered the voyages a waste of imperial resources. By the 15th century, China had deliberately turned inward.
The 2005 commemorative series appeared alongside a broader state effort to rehabilitate Zheng He as a symbol of peaceful Chinese engagement with the wider world. KM#1625 is one of several denominations issued across gold and silver in that program.